Had a productive day today

Work went well. I got all the things I needed finished. After work, I did the following once I got home:

1. Started some bread in the bread maker.
2. Went to the store for shallots, leeks, and half and half.
3. Unloaded the dishwasher.
4. Washed the dirty dishes by hand, as we're out of Cascade pods.
5. Fed the animals and let the dogs out and back in.
6. Put my laundry away.
7. Spent some time with a friend who's having a really rough day.
8. Emptied my travel sharps container and put the pen needles in a regular one. I use a large prescription medicine bottle as a sharps container when I'm away from home, but I have to empty it every other day or so into one of those red ones that are larger.
9. Got out some more insulin from the refrigerator to take in my bag.
10. Ate a peanut butter and honey sandwich (we're out of spreadable fruit).
11. Took the bread out to cool, then put it away once it did so.
12. Listened to some music.
13. Dried the dishes that were on a mat by the coffee maker so they'd be out of the way for tomorrow.
14. Cuddled with the cat.

Now I'm listening to more music before bed--Of Monsters and Men. The cat is on my belly, purring. The plan is to go to bed early. I need to do that before midnight, anyway, as I've had trouble getting enough sleep lately and I've been dragging in the morning as a result. I have a dental cleaning appointment tomorrow, so hopefully that goes well. Then Friday I have an early-morning appointment with my psychiatrist.

My fifty-first birthday is Monday. I don't know why, but it's bothering me more than the last one, which was the big 5-0. I guess with closing the library and the lay off, etc., last year, I was just too busy and distracted to freak out. :)

Okay, I'm going to bed. Good night!

Sigh

Apparently, Pandora can magically sense my mood tonight: 'Oblivion' by Bastille, 'Your Bones' by Of Monsters and Men, and 'Lifeline' by Mat Kearney, have all played in the last few minutes. My mom, the library, even the children's book programme--all going away, evaporating, leaving my life. It's really starting to hit me. Ten more workdays left till the end. Then I show up on the 31st, sign my paperwork, and that's it. Tomorrow will be my 20th year at work. And while I wouldn't trade it for anything, its ending makes me more than a little sad.

Just got home

I worked a little over a half-day today and then took a friend to an appointment in the afternoon, which took awhile. After we got out of that, we went to the pharmacy to get his medicine and then by that time it was dinner time and so we stopped by Gumbo Ya Ya and got some food and took it to his house and ate. Then I did a little work on the computer (it's really lagging for him) and came on home. I've taken the brace off because you shouldn't wear it all the time, but I'm trying not to move my wrist that much. I'm listening to Of Monsters and Men and as soon as I get off of here, I think I'll do some reading on intuitive eating, which satisfies my tasks for today of reading and nutrition. :) I am oddly very tired; I'd gone into work early, so I was up earlier than normal, although I did get 8 hours of sleep, but still. I should work on the game notes tonight, especially as tomorrow is 'Grimm' night, and I may later, but I'm tempted to lie down for just a bit. Of course, that does usually turn into a sleep rather than a nap for me. Still, it may be worth the risk.

Not a bad two hours' work

The plants are watered, I've done the dishwasher dishes, and I've moved a table over by the door and set up a landing point for mail, along with the sorting box and an 'out' divider. I've also found a spot for the shredder that was on the table. I'd offered to shred some cheque books for a friend, so I wanted to make sure I had easy access to it. I moved the old lamp A gave me over by the computer, too, so I have light by that desk as well.

It's right after midnight. I'm listening to Of Monsters and Men's 'Slow and Steady'. I'm not really sleepy (I have had quite a bit of caffeine today), but I should close the windows and go on to bed, as I need to do some things in the morning and then take my laundry over to my friends' house and help them with Sunday chores.

By the way, I was sorry to hear that Harper Lee died the other day. I had just gotten Go Set a Watchman out of the library a couple of days before. I love To Kill a Mockingbird. It is probably my favourite book I ever had to read for school. The movie is excellent, too, of course.

Okay, I'm going to skip to my favourite song on this album, 'Your Bones', listen to it, and then shut everything up and prepare for bed. I think it got up to 70 today, and it's still warm outside, but alas, I live on the first floor and no longer have a dog, so no sleeping overnight with the windows open. I'm trying to enjoy the weather while I can; it starts raining tonight and into tomorrow, and then midweek we could have snow again and it will be colder.

Good night. Hope you're having a good weekend so far.

Love this one too...

Not quite sure what happened

with the bread I was baking, an oatmeal loaf. I measured out all the ingredients correctly. I think maybe I thought it went from small to large on the settings, but it was still on small, but I'd put in enough for a large loaf. (I was at a bad angle for seeing the screen.) It's very dense and about half the normal size. Mmmmm...it's still good as far as taste, at least. :) I may try again once everything cools down. Meanwhile, I'm on the last song of the playlist, 'Your Bones' by Of Monsters and Men. I love that one.

I've been up for about 45 minutes

I have opened the windows just a bit above the window boxes, just enough to get fresh air without making the plants up next to the window scream in terror (it was 43 degrees when I got up this morning), and I've been listening to Of Monsters and Men's My Head is an Animal. In fact, right now I'm listening to 'Your Bones', my favourite on the album.

I've eaten something and it's definitely time to start getting myself together and starting to work. I need to:

1. Pay my rent this morning.
2. Get some soda so I have some caffeine in me.
3. Set the DVR for 'Doctor Who'.
4. Work on the kitchen.
5. Work on the living/dining area.
6. Clean the bathroom.
7. Put laundry away.
8. Gather up new laundry.
9. Straighten up the bedroom.
10. Work on the book review.
11. Work on the game notes.
12. Get A to bring in the tubs/boxes in my car.
13. Go to the grocery store.
14. Watch something with YKWIA.

I'm not sure how much I can get done today. Some things, like rent, are priority. Which I should go get ready to do now, I think. Hope you have a great day.

In bed listening to Of Monsters and Men

'From Finner', in fact, from their album My Head is an Animal. I'm home after spending some time with YKWIA, although sadly, there was actually no 'Grimm' tonight. This afternoon I went by the pharmacy and then stopped by Good Foods Co-op and paid my owner's fee instalment and got some nummy things and some green apple and ginger shampoo and conditioner. Then I went over to YKWIA's, and over to Kroger for some things for them, and then back again. Now I'm home. The week seems like it's lasted a long time, although of course that's just my perception.

I did get some good news today. Two jobs opened up in the area, so I'm going to work on my applications and résumé so I can get them submitted in time. Wish me luck!

Okay, seems like my computer wants to do some automatic updating and plans to shut down in 11 minutes. Time for bed, anyway. Good night.

A nice weekend so far

Listening to Of Monsters and Men, 'Slow and Steady'

Friday was a very long day, one where I played catch up on various things, and mostly did manage to. But it was so nice to get away from work that afternoon. I went to Gabriel Brothers and went purse-shopping, with success. A friend asked me to bring some creamer over and we watched Disney's 'Beyond Witch Mountain', and then I came home, tried to work on the notes without success, and went to take a nap that lasted far too long. I was just so tired.

On Saturday I got up a little early and made the bed, folded the laundry, and did a few things around the house. Then I went over to my friends' house and helped get everyone to the Indian restaurant (Masala, in Beaumont) by around noon. We had a lovely buffet meal. I especially liked the vegetable korma and a dish I don't remember the name of, but which had eggplant and potatoes in it. The naan was great. I even had a couple of gulab jamun. This was in celebration of a friend's birthday, and afterwards he was having a real craving for Baskin Robbins ice cream, and it turned out there was one at the end of the shopping centre. So we went there and had dessert. After returning to their house, we watched some videos, including the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street. It had some good moments, but I really prefer the original. Robert Englund, in my opinion, is Freddy Krueger. He simply isn't replaceable.

I finished the game notes early this morning, then overslept. Today was the game, where we progressed a bit and I think we're set to go for next time. We also did the grocery run today, as well as the normal game preparations. I got home a little after 10 pm.

Tomorrow I am totally free. I have checked and the YMCA is open shorter hours, but open. I think I'm going to try to go. I also plan to do some reading and some video watching. The house is in good shape; I just need to make the bed and do about four dishes and some flatware. Really. So tomorrow is a day to have some fun on my own.

Friends and eggplant goodness

I wound up watching a friend cook tonight (and eventually did a bit to help, including scooping out eggplant guts to make little boats to stuff), then staying for dinner, where we had Eggplant Sicilian Style (eggplants stuffed with eggplant, tomatoes, garlic, and onion, I think, topped with cheese) and a nice tomato and onion salad. While I was merely watching, I was texting with another friend, whose son started preschool today. And my other friend and I visited for awhile before the cooking began, and then he rejoined us for dinner. So it was a night full of friends. I found that watching someone cook is very relaxing. I didn't mind helping, of course. I just scooped out the little boats, cut up a few tomatoes, as well as an onion. Otherwise we just visited. So it was a nice night full of good company as well as eggplant and tomato goodness.

I'm listening to Of Monsters and Men's album, My Head is an Animal. I really like them. I especially love 'Dirty Paws' and 'Your Bones'.





It's kind of late, so no reading tonight. I'm going to set several alarms for early in the morning, as I have some straightening up to do before the exterminators get here tomorrow for their bimonthly visit. So I'll say goodnight for now. Hope you're having a good week. The weekend is just around the corner, at least. :) My week has been a little less busy than the last few weeks, but I had a lot of interlibrary loans to do today from several different researchers. But it's nice that they're using the library. I'm also trying to refine a search using skills I learned in the class I didn't finish. :) Oh, well, it was a good experience, anyway. So, goodnight, already. Take care.

Had a nice dinner with friends

I kept the cook company and did some prep work for tomorrow, and then I helped clean up afterwards, loading the dishwasher (I am so glad they got that) and washed a few dishes that can't go in the dishwasher. Technically that had been second dinner; I had some baked fish with almonds, macaroni and cheese, and a small serving of mixed vegetables after I'd clocked out but whilst still at work. At my friends I had some broccoli soup with a tomato base and Gruyere cheese, a small serving of carrots with raisins and onions, and a salad of tomatoes, herbs, feta cheese, and onions. So together I've had quite a bit to eat tonight, but I think I'll be okay for tomorrow. Mostly it was either protein or vegetables.

I didn't manage to get to work early today, although I did get there on time. But it was a productive day and I'll try to go in tomorrow to make up some of my time from Tuesday. I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday, though. And YKWIA is talking about making kugel on Saturday, which is great. I can almost do that from memory, I've helped enough. Kugel is a wonderful thing.

I did give blood today, my 35th donation (that may sound impressive, but it's over about 29 years, so it averages out to be about once or twice a year). It went very slooooowwwly for some reason. The alarm kept going off and they had to reposition the apparatus the needle was attached to several times. But they managed to get a minimal pint out of me, although it didn't look as robust as the ones I've done in the past. But otherwise it did alright, no complaints. The phlebotomist was good, everyone was professional, I didn't have any light-headedness or anything. The site does itch a bit, but I think that's normal; they used latex-free stuff on me, I know. I'm very vigilant about that ever since a dentist washed my mouth out with soap as I was having a mild reaction with some swelling when she accidently regloved with latex.

Well, if I'm to get up early, I should turn in soon. I'm listening to some music right now (more of the Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men). I've taken my insulin (I forgot the Lantus last night and my blood sugar was a bit high (but not like it had been) as a result today). Have a good night.

What a busy day!

Listening to Of Monsters and Men, 'Dirty Paws'

Today I:

1. Woke up and wasn't groggy; morning blood sugar was only 145!
2. Went into work early
3. Worked half a day
4. Took a friend to an appointment
5. Got my insulin and pen needles from the pharmacy
6. Took my friend to pick up something that he'd ordered
7. Ate dinner with him
8. Took him to the grocery; also got glucose tablets and alcohol pads for me
9. Watched 'H2O: Just Add Water', an episode from season 3
10. Watched the first episode of 'Fringe'
11. Came home just now and am listening to music and relaxing after all that running around

I have a busy evening ahead of me

Things I really should do:

1. Water the plants, inside the house and in the window boxes
2. Wash laundry, both hand-washables and machine ones
3. Straighten up the house
4. Take out the trash and recyclables
5. Write a book review that is due Thursday for a book I haven't read yet
6. Catch up on a PubMed searching class I'm taking
7. Give my monthly libation to Hekate

Things I'd like to do:

1. Listen to some new music I have
2. Watch the 'Big Bang Theory' on DVD

So I'm going to start by reading through the (thankfully brief) book while listening to Of Monsters and Men's My Head is an Animal. Then I'll start on the laundry and clean for a bit, this time to Imagine Dragons' Night Visions. Then I'll sit down and work on the computer for the class and review. I'll celebrate by watching an episode or two of 'The Big Bang Theory' if I get all that accomplished. Then I'll do the libation before bed. That's the plan, anyway. But first, I'm going to take some ibuprofen because my back is hurting still, and it's gone from hurting just when I stand to doing so even when sitting, which doesn't bode well for my plans.